Box closure



March l1, 1952 R. F. sNYDER 2,588,996

BOX CLOSURE Filed June 1o, 194s 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 INVENTOR. ROBERT Ff SNYDER.

La? f TTOHVE YS March 1l, 1952 R. F. SNYDER 2,588,996

Box CLOSURE Filed June 10, 1948 2 sHEETssHEET 2 INVENTOR.

ROBERT F. NYDER.

Patented Mar. 1l, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates generally to cartons or containers of the type fabricated by folding thin sheet material such as paper board, and more specifically to such cartons or containers formed with dispensing means in its top which may be closed to retain the contents and maintain it in a sanitary condition.

Cartons of the type to which this invention relates are widely employed for the packaging of granulated materials such as soaps and detergents. and are alsoremployed for the packaging of grain cereals, breakfast foods and the like. In either case it is desirable that some form of dispensing means be provided so that relatively small quantities of the packaged material may be poured from the container. If finely divided materials are carried by the container, it is important that the dispensing arrangement be capable of forming a closure that will prevent accidental leakage. It is equallyimportant that the 'dispensing arrangement be capable of forming a closure that will maintain the foods in a sanitary condition and preclude the entry of insects.

The principal object of the present-invention resides in the provision of a combined dispensing and closure means that has the following features and advantages:

1. A dispensing means that may be readily opened4 when the package is received from the supplier;

2. Adispensing means that may be readily manipulated, subsequent the initial use thereof, to provide an effective closure;

3. A dispensing-means that may be provide without material modification of the blank from which the carton is formed.

Briefly, in one form of the invention the aforesaid objects and advantages are obtained by forming a trapezoidal flap at one side of the carton top with the narrow side thereof articulated. The carton, in such case, is formed in a conventional manner with a rectangular end flap extending inwardly from the associated end panel and underlies the top. In the present invention the end flap may be manipulated to overlie the top flap and underlie the triangular top segments on each side thereof whereby a closure is formed `that maybe readily opened and resealed. The manner in which the aforesaid objects vand advantages are accomplished by the invencarton;

Fig. 2 shows a corner of the carton before the dispensing means has been opened;

Fig. 3 shows the top flap separated from the top at its sides by parting the fracture lines:

Fig. 4 shows the top iiap bent back and revealing the end flap disposed thereunder which has been previously glued thereto;

Fig. 5 shows the end flap bent to clear lthe opening in the carton which is now ready to accommodate the dispensing operation;

Fig. 6 shows a preliminary step in closing the dispensing means;

Fig. '7 shows the dispensing means in its closed or sealed position; l

Fig. 8 is a medial section through Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 shows a modified form wherein the carton is manufactured with the top flap pierced from the top, but sealed for shipment by an adhesive tape; and,

Fig. 10 shows the preliminary opening or closing step of the modified form.

Referring to Fig. l, a typical blank for a carton is shown partially folded and assembled, The carton comprises side panels II) and II and end panels I2 and I3, which may be cemented or glued at the flange I4. The blank includes top segments I5 and I6, and end panels I2 and I3 are customarily provided with end aps I1 and I8, respectively, Which form continuations of the end panels and are bent therefrom. This portion of the blank is conventional, particularly the end naps I1 and I8. The manner of forming the top may be varied from the construction shown Without affecting the mode of operation of the invention.

' The only modification of the conventional blank heretofore described, in order to affect one form of my invention, is to provide a generally trapezoidal top nap. This is readily accomplished by scoring the top segments as at I9 for articulation of the iiap on the top and by providing fracture lines 20 to facilitate separation or parting of the flap from the top. An adhesive 22 is applied to the end flaps or to the underside of the top, and the parts that are folded down as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1 complete the sealing of the box. With this structure,l the box has the appearance indicated in Fig.A 2V and is conventional in structure except for the fracture lines 20 and the articulation line yi9 that cooperate to form top flap 2 I.

When the user wishes to open the carton he merely grips the top flap 2| and parts the fracture lines,V simultaneously breaking the glued connection with the end iiap I8. This is shown in vpiercing the top along the lines 30.

Figs. 3 and 4. The end iiap I8 is now exposed and may be readily elevated to clear the top as shown in Fig. 5. The end flap I8 was formerly retained in its fabricated position by the triangular top Y members 23 adjacent the top flap, but the end iiap may now be deformed or bent, during the opening operation to clear the corners 23.

When it is desired to close and seal the dispensing means, the top flap 2| is pushed downwardly in the aperture formed in the top and the end flap 18 manipulated so that its edges slide below the corner segments 23 and above the top ap 2l, as seen in Fig. 6. With the edges properlyY inserted, the end flap I8 tends to spread out.

Vprovided that may be easily repositioned after opening'toform an effective closure.

When making the blank, Vinstead of. forming the top member with fracture lines, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it may be preferable to form the .top flap .so that it is initially free of the top by The box may then be assembled after lling with the top flap and end nap disposed, as shown in Fig, 9. In this form, no glue is applied to the end flap I8 .and the'boxis assembled for shipment with the same disposition of parts that occurs after the dispenser has been opened and closed by the user -as-heretofore described.

In this construction it is preferable that an radditional 'sealing means be Yadded to maintain the parts in positive relation duringshipment and handling, and for this purpose it has been found that a thin band of suitable adhesive tape 32 may lbeapplied to the carton across the joints so that lthe exposediportion-of the end ap I8 as Well as the adjacent top segments 23 are covered.

'.The Vform just described is in many respects a preferred form in that it does not require any tearing or parting of the fracture lines by the user. It also .has an advantage not found in prior .closing and dispensing means commonly .employed Yin the trade in that the carton is de- .livered to the Vuser Withthe dispensing and clohe opens the carton the user is automaticallyin- -structed in the proper manipulation `of the parts.

It Will be understood that the top construction illustrated in Fig. l merely represents one arrangement commonin the art. Other top con- `.structions maybe employed without departing .from the essence of the invention and its mode of operation so long as an end flap is provided at the dispensing corner. It Willalso be apparent that the Vline from each end of the line of articulation of the top flap and the carton cornerV may be; other than a straight line and .such structure .is contemplated as falling Within theinvention.

- .Although the foregoing description is necessarily of adetailed character, in order that the invention may be completely set. forth, itis to be Aunderstood that the Vspeciic terminology is not .intended to be restrictive or confining, and that various rearrangements of parts Vand moclica-V 4 parting from the scope or spirit of the invention as herein claimed. Y

What is claimed is:

1. A folded paper box comprising side panels and end panels, an end iiap extending from one end of one of said end panels, a substantial portion of said end iap being equal in Width to the associated end panel, means attached to said side panels to form the top of said box, the portion of said top adjacent said end ap having formed therein a top flap, said top' iiap being articulated to'said top along a line that is parallel to and closely adjacent the end of said end flap andV stops short of each side panel, said top iiap havingsides free of said top extending from each end of said line -of articulation substantially to the associated corners of the box, said end iiap overlying said top ap and underlying the portions of said .top disposed at each side of said top flap.

2. A folded paper box comprising side panels and end panels, an end flap extending from one end of one of said end panels, a substantial `portion of said end flap being equal in 'Width tothe associated end panel, said end flap being .folded across the top of said box, means attached to said side panels to form the top of said box, tl ie portion of said top adjacent said end fla-phaving formed therein a top flap, said top flap beinga1"- ticulated to said top alonga line that is parallel `to and-closelyadjacent Vthe end of said 'end'iiap and stops short of each side panel, said top ilap having sides formed by fracture lines in said top extending from each end of said line of articulation substantially to the associatedl corners of the box, said top flapv overlying said end'flap'and being glued thereto, said Vend nap being.y positionable to overlie said top ap and underlie the .portions of said top .disposed .at each side of said top ap.

3. A folded kpaper box comprising .side panels and end panels, .an endjilap extending from one end of at least one of said end panels, 'a substantial portion of said end flap being equal in Width to the associated end panel, said end flap being folded across the top of said box, means attached to said side panels to form the top of saidbox, the portion of said top adjacent said end flap having formed therein a top flap, said top flap being articulated to said toplalong aline `that vis parallel to and closely adjacent the end of said end .flap and stops short of eachside panel, said top flapl having sides free .oisaid top .extending from each end of said .line-of articulationsubstantially to the associated corners of the box, said end flap overlying .said top flap and underlying the portions of said topdisposed ateach side of said top ilap, anda length of thin Vad.- hesive tape overlying .and attached tothe exposed portion Yof said end filap-and to said top adjacent said end ap.

4. .A folded paper box comprising side Ypanels and end panels, an .endfiaprextending from one end of at least one Vof said end panels, 'a substantial portionof `said end flap being equal in `Width to the associated end panel, 'said end flap being foldedacross vthe top of said box, means attachedtosaid.sidepanels to form thetop vQ'fksaid box, the vportion .ofsaid top adjacent;v said iend flap havingformed thereina 'top flap, Saidltop ilap being Yarticulated to said top along aline that. is parallel toand closely adjacent the endof said .endiiap and stops short of each sidepan'el, said top flap having Vsides formed by fracture lines in said top extending from eachend of said line of'articulation substantially to the associated corners of the box, said top flap overlying said end flap and being glued thereto, said top flap being arranged for separation from said end flap and said top by parting the material along said fracture lines, said end flap being deformable for lifting clear of said top and for insertion beneath top segments disposed to each side of said top flap, said top segments thereafter overlying said top ap.

5. In a container, a paper panel forming a Wall of said container, a closure for said panel, said closure comprising a rst flap generally rectangular in shape and articulated along one edge to said panel, a second flap of generally trapezoidal configuration, said second flap being articulated along the shorter of its tWo parallel sides, the line of articulation of said second ap being parallel to that of said first flap and spaced therefrom by 6 the width of said lirst nap measured from its line of articulation, the line of articulation of said second flap being substantially centered with respect to that of said first flap so that when said flaps are in contact said first ap extends past both sides of said second flap.

ROBERT F. SNYDER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,606,439 Metzger Nov. 9, 1926 1,746,006 Metzger Feb. 4, 1930 1,800,415 Trost Apr. 14, 1931 2,488,323 Parker Nov. 15, 1949 

